quote:I'll go ahead and recommend the same book that I recommend in every book thread, The Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon.

ETA: I guess I'll try to sell The Starmaker a little. Arthur C. Clarke referred to it as possibly the greatest work of imagination ever. I think that it was supposed to be one of his primary inspirations.

Nice added to the list.

quote:I'll also recommend Infinte Jest by David Foster Wallace. I've seen it compared to Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow in terms of being abstruse, but I haven't really gotten around to Pynchon yet, so I don't know if this comparison is credible.

Have it, still haven't read it, haha. And it's probably too big to travel with. I'm on planes a lot.

Sometimes described as a darker, grittier version of Tolkien, that is simplistic. Starting with the Elric stories (my recommendation), you'll find elements of fantasy, theology, commentary on recreational drugs, multiverse theories, morality, just a whole range of things, all with a quasi 60s, quasi medieval vibe, and touches of classic Lovecraftian horror (and I mean this in a good way). Occasionally it gets a little brooding, but that's by design, because Elric is a big brooder - shouldered with this burden of being an "Anti Messiah" (if I can use this term.)

My highest recommendation (and there's a graphic novel, but save it for a while - there was supposed to be a movie, but that will probably not happen before Moorcock dies, although I hold out hope.)

Fantastic (and we should have gotten that movie instead of 300, IMHO, but, it is what it is).

A very similar book is The Ten Thousand - basically the Gates of Fire template superimposed on the Anabasis (Xenophon's story). While I have an affinity for the Thermopylae story, this is almost as good as Gates of Fire(Michael Curtis Ford is the author).

Sometimes described as a darker, grittier version of Tolkien, that is simplistic. Starting with the Elric stories (my recommendation), you'll find elements of fantasy, theology, commentary on recreational drugs, multiverse theories, morality, just a whole range of things, all with a quasi 60s, quasi medieval vibe, and touches of classic Lovecraftian horror (and I mean this in a good way). Occassionally it gets a little brooding, but that's by design, because Elric is a big brooder - shouldered with this burden of being an "Anti Messiah" (if I can use this term.)

My highest recommendation (and there's a graphic novel, but save it for a while - there was supposed to be a movie, but that will probably not happen before Moorcock dies, although I hold out hope.)

Right up my alley. Best book to start with? Looking at amazon there are a few Vol. 1's...?

There are some views and aspects of Infinte Jest that are really pretentious and kind of off-putting. I think that person should at least appreciate the intelligence of where that is coming from. However, the way that he breathes life into dozens of complex characters and weaves their stories together is the most impressive that I have ever experienced. His gritty dark humor just fits my personality as well.

These novels are "The Vanishing Tower" (earlier published as "The Sleeping Sorceress"), "Stealer of Souls" and "Stormbringer" (which could teach some of these guys a lesson or two on how to wrap up a fantasy series.)

(There are later-written novels/stories that fit in various places in the timeline above, but I still recommend you read those first 6 published in order - it's chaotic enough as it is, and the later stuff has a different vibe.)

Work from there - Elric is the last Emperor of (effectively an Elvish) an old race as "human" beings start to overrun the planet. They're tired, decadent, virtually amoral (or immoral). He is betrothed to one of his cousins and another cousin is trying to replace him.

Elric himself is physically weak, an albino who uses sorcery and drugs to compensate for his fraility - he discovers an artifact that makes him nearly invincible as a warrior - but at a terrible price.

(That's my best attempt at a pitch.)

(ETA: And Moorcock is much more economical with his words than either Tolkien or Martin - most of his early work was published as serials - only the stuff from about 1980 onward was written and published under one cover as a novel - each of the original 6 Elric "books" was ~200 to ~250 pages and could be read over a single long day of reading.)

Perhaps - part of the problem is that White Wolf publishing put out an omnibus collection of Moorcock's work (including Elric stuff), then they had a falling out. He did the 2 later novels, then a later "trilogy" of sorts, and there was some attempt to publish those in correct "chronology" with the original 6.

If necessary, get the used individual paperbacks, one at a time, then figure out if you want an omnibus version later - I was hooked immediately, but if you just spend $2 or $3 on "Elric of Melnibone", and don't like the style or tone, you can move on to something else.

I'm guessing there's no post-apocalyptic space opera starring pirates where zombies have taken over the universe and you have to read the book backwards to forwards while wearing special glasses to get clues?

Hyperion series - 7/10. Honestly wasn't the biggest fan when I was reading it, but looking back it was pretty good.

Discworld - varies. Some really good, depending on your preference. Start with the color of magic and try one of each storyline until you find one that sticks. I prefer the Death and Rincewind storylines.

Kingkiller chronicles - 8.5/10. First one was great, second dragged a bit in the middle but still enjoyable. Waiting for the 3rd patiently.

Mistborn series - 9/10 excellent. All 3.

Snow Crash - I'm sure you've read this.

11/22/63 - 7/10. Relevant for today and some interesting ideas, but it can be long and repetitive.

The Diamond Age - 9.5/10 - one of my favorites. Right below Neverwhere, but you said you already read that one.

Nelson Demille's John Corey series and Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series are quick and entertaining cop/spy action books if that's your thing.

Hyperion series - 7/10. Honestly wasn't the biggest fan when I was reading it, but looking back it was pretty good.

Discworld - varies. Some really good, depending on your preference. Start with the color of magic and try one of each storyline until you find one that sticks. I prefer the Death and Rincewind storylines.

Kingkiller chronicles - 8.5/10. First one was great, second dragged a bit in the middle but still enjoyable. Waiting for the 3rd patiently.

Mistborn series - 9/10 excellent. All 3.

Snow Crash - I'm sure you've read this.

11/22/63 - 7/10. Relevant for today and some interesting ideas, but it can be long and repetitive.

The Diamond Age - 9.5/10 - one of my favorites. Right below Neverwhere, but you said you already read that one.

Nelson Demille's John Corey series and Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series are quick and entertaining cop/spy action books if that's your thing.

quote:Hyperion series - 7/10. Honestly wasn't the biggest fan when I was reading it, but looking back it was pretty good.

Noted.

quote:Discworld - varies. Some really good, depending on your preference. Start with the color of magic and try one of each storyline until you find one that sticks. I prefer the Death and Rincewind storylines.

Awesome, thanks for the tips.

quote:Kingkiller chronicles - 8.5/10. First one was great, second dragged a bit in the middle but still enjoyable. Waiting for the 3rd patiently.

I've heard these are good. Added.

quote:Mistborn series - 9/10 excellent. All 3.

Added.

quote:Snow Crash - I'm sure you've read this.

Yup and love it. I like Stephenson in general.

quote:11/22/63 - 7/10. Relevant for today and some interesting ideas, but it can be long and repetitive.

I browsed, and read it quickly, it's ok. Didn't hold me though.

quote:The Diamond Age - 9.5/10 - one of my favorites. Right below Neverwhere, but you said you already read that one.